News

12/22/2016 - Chief Duane Lovello Announces Retirement

Date: December 22, 2016

Re: Chief Duane Lovello Announces Retirement

Issued by: Det. Sgt. Jeremiah P. Marron Jr.

DARIEN, CT - Darien
Police Chief Duane J. Lovello, a thirty-five year veteran of the Darien Police
Department, will retire on February 15, 2017.
Lovello notified the Darien Police Commission and First Selectman Jayme
Stevenson of his decision earlier this week.
“It’s just time. I’ve had a
career that was challenging, rewarding and fulfilling. I am going to miss it, but it’s the right
time for me to move on.”

Lovello
began his career with the Department in December of 1981. He was transferred to the Detective Division
in October of 1986, and was promoted to sergeant in July of 1993, lieutenant in
September 2000 and captain in December 2000.
Upon the retirement of former Chief Hugh McManus, the Darien Police
Commission named Lovello Darien’s ninth Chief of Police, being sworn into
office in March 2005.

His
tenure saw much change for the Darien Police Department. “One of the things that truly sets this
Department apart is an enthusiasm for change.
There’s never a shortage of ideas.
Every chief I’ve served under left this Department better than he found
it. I had the privilege to work for
three fine individuals – Chief John Jordan, Chief Bruce Anderson, and Chief
Hugh McManus, with each imparting skills I tried to emulate.”

Under
Lovello, the Department became one of the few in the State to achieve Tier II
Accreditation and an expanded and thoroughly renovated police facility was
constructed. The School Resource Officer
was implemented and in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, each school
campus was assigned a School Liaison Officer.
The K9 and Traffic divisions were formed, as was the Domestic Violence
Unit and Accident Investigation Team. The
Department joined a regional Emergency Response Team, the Youth Bureau was
expanded, the Cops and Kids Adventures program began, a Public Information
Officer was named and the Department’s Table of Organization was restructured. Command
level officers are now sent for advanced training, including attendance at the
prestigious Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University. Advances in technology have been embraced by
the Department and Lovello is proud of the Department’s use of social media.

Appointed
by Governor Malloy to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council in
2012, he was subsequently appointed as Chairman in 2016. He currently serves as president of the
Fairfield County Chiefs of Police Association and is a past president of the
Fairfield County Detectives Conference and the Darien Police Association. He received a bachelor’s degree from the
University of New Haven and a law degree from the University of Connecticut; he
is a member of the Connecticut Bar and is a graduate of the FBI National
Academy, Session 215.

The
Darien Police Commission will be tasked with naming a successor to Chief
Lovello. “The Town of Darien is very
fortunate to have three police commissioners who are fully engaged in ensuring
that the Town hires and promotes individuals who will move the Department
forward. Naming my replacement will be
no exception. I’ll leave knowing a great
police department is well-positioned for the future.”